Caterpillar machine retail sales drop accelerates, led by Asia

PEORIA - Caterpillar Inc., the biggest maker of construction and mining equipment, said global retail machine sales fell 13 percent in the three months through February.Asia Pacific sales declined 26 percent from the same period a year earlier, the Peoria, Illinois-based company said today in a filing. North American sales were 12 percent lower and Europe, Africa and the Middle East slid 9 percent. Latin America was up 3 percent.Caterpillar last month said global retail machine sales fell 4 percent in the three months through January.